Notice of Dave Hopper’s Funeral Arrangements:  The funeral service will take place on Friday 29th July at the Miners’ Hall, Red Hill, Flass Street, Durham, DH1 4BE, starting at 9.45am. It will be a humanist service conducted by Rodney Bickerstaffe, former general secretary of Unison. Please make donations in lieu of flowers to the Friends of […]

In an article in the Guardian on 9th July 2016, it was stated that Tom Blenkinsop MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland had an invitation to the 132nd Durham Miners’ Gala withdrawn. This is untrue. No invitation was withdrawn, as Blenkinsopp was never invited in the first place and has never once received an invitation […]

The 132nd Durham Miners’ Gala will be remembered for a long time, as a record crowd filled the streets of Durham city. On the racecourse, the largest crowd for generations – including thousands of young people – gathered in an incredible show of support for the leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn and heard from supportive Labour […]

Contrary to recent press reports, Labour MPs who refused to support Jeremy Corbyn in the recent vote of confidence have not been “banned” or “barred” from attending this year’s Gala. The Gala is a public event which anyone can attend. However, the invitations to attend the official Durham Miners’ Association events and functions, stand on […]

I would first like to extend my deepest sympathy to the husband of Jo Cox, her young children and her wider family and friends who loved. She was an outstanding Memberof Parliament, a deeply committed humanitarian and the labour movement can ill afford to lose such a valued and dedicated comrade. Jo embodied the spirit […]

A group of so-called Labour MPs appear to have conspired to use the vote on EU membership – called by our political enemies the Tories – as an excuse to overthrow our democratically elected leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn. These people, many of whom are unheard of, cannot stand any form of democracy […]

Hillsborough campaigner, Margaret Aspinall speaking at the Durham Miners’ Gala in 2013 STATEMENT:  The Durham Miners’ Association welcomes the jury’s decision of unlawful killing of 96 people in the Hillsborough Inquest.This decision totally vindicates the supporters of Liverpool F.C. and condemns the actions of the South Yorkshire Police on that dreadful day. Anyone who believes […]

Over the years, the Durham Miners’ Gala – Britain’s biggest and most historic trade union celebration – has welcomed people from all over the world. We have a proud history of standing up against fascism and racism. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, where the Durham miners stood […]

Jeremy Corbyn addressing the Durham Miners’ Gala, July 2015.  (Photo: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images) Since Jeremy Corbyn was elected as leader of the Labour Party, receiving the biggest democratic mandate in the party’s history, he has been subjected to a torrent of unfair criticism. Day in and day out, newspapers from across the political spectrum have […]

Unfurling a new Trimdon Grange Banner 19th July 1963. Left to right R. Beamson, Anthony Greathead, R. Bellas, J. Slater MP, J. Fletcher, R. Pratt, T. Bentham, Harold Wilson MP, K. Fairless, M. Pratt, T. Dalkin and J. Ford The First World War was entering its second year of carnage when Anthony Greathead was born. He […]